CHESHIRE East Council has admitted more redundancies are needed as part of the restructuring and "modernising" of one of its core departments - just five months after its creation.

An unknown number of jobs - potentially 47 staff - will be lost in the places directorate, which covers everything from public toilets and wardens to cemeteries, with compulsory redundancies not being ruled out.

A spokesman for CEC, which formed on April 1, confirmed the 'small reduction' after the Express received an anonymous tip off that dozens of posts were at risk.

A Cheshire East Council spokesman said: "The places directorate recently consulted on a new structure in order to modernise services and deliver

improved efficiency and financial savings.

"This does mean a small reduction in staffing numbers in some areas and a number of changed roles for others. The council appreciates this is a challenging time for staff having recently undergone local government reorganisation and the impact of the current recession.

"The council is fully committed to avoiding the need for redundancy wherever possible and is seeking to redeploy staff and offer voluntary redundancy where appropriate.

"Extensive consultation with staff and trade unions continues to take place to minimise any concerns surrounding these changes."

But she admitted there were 'no assurances' that there would not be compulsory redundancies.

She said 133 employees in the places directorate would be reinterviewed as part of restructuring, which would lead to 47 posts being removed within the department.

Those 47 staff would either be redeployed within CEC, or made redundant - first through volunteers - she said.